KCNA Container Orchestration Practice Question
A Kubernetes cluster has a Service named 'my-svc' in the 'default' namespace. Which command would correctly expose this service as an external endpoint using a cloud load balancer?
⚠ Common exam trap
The CNCF exam often tests the misconception that `kubectl expose service` without `--type=LoadBalancer` will automatically expose the service externally, when in fact it only creates a ClusterIP Service unless the type is explicitly specified.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
kubectl expose service my-svc --type=LoadBalancer --name=my-svc-lb
`kubectl expose service my-svc --type=LoadBalancer --name=my-svc-lb` creates a new Service of type LoadBalancer that inherits the selector and port configuration from the existing 'my-svc' Service, which provisions a cloud load balancer (e.g., AWS ELB, GCP TCP/UDP LB) to expose it externally. The `--type=LoadBalancer` flag is essential to request a cloud load balancer, and `--name` specifies the new Service's name to avoid overwriting the original.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
kubectl expose deployment my-svc --type=LoadBalancer --name=my-svc-lb
Why it's wrong here
This would attempt to expose a deployment, not the service.
- ✗
kubectl expose service my-svc --name=my-svc-lb
Why it's wrong here
Without --type, defaults to ClusterIP, not LoadBalancer.
- ✗
kubectl expose service my-svc --port=80 --target-port=8080
Why it's wrong here
This changes port mapping but does not set the service type to LoadBalancer.
- ✓
kubectl expose service my-svc --type=LoadBalancer --name=my-svc-lb
Why this is correct
Correctly creates a new LoadBalancer service based on the existing service.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This KCNA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the KCNA exam.